Spellbound is a rather average but watchable animated film that seems tailor-made for children while leaving adults longing for something more. While it has its moments, the film struggles to rise above mediocrity despite a talented voice cast and a meaningful message.
The story follows familiar tropes with unremarkable characters, which makes it difficult to emotionally invest in their journey. However, there are a few effective moments that manage to strike a chord, particularly when delivering the film’s central message of resilience and perseverance—an important takeaway for younger audiences navigating challenges.
One of Spellbound’s highlights is its voice cast. Rachel Zegler shines as the lead, delivering strong vocal performances in her solo musical numbers, which are among the film’s better moments. John Lithgow and Nathan Lane also add gravitas with their distinctive voices, helping elevate otherwise bland material.
Unfortunately, the musical numbers as a whole fall short. Apart from Zegler’s solos, the songs fail to leave a lasting impression. For a musical, this is a significant drawback. The animation quality is similarly uneven, ranging from passable to outright substandard, with several scenes feeling incomplete or lacking polish.
While Spellbound is certainly better than Luck—a previous effort from the same animation studio—that’s faint praise. It’s a film that hints at potential but ultimately delivers a pedestrian, middle-of-the-road product.
For families with young children, Spellbound might be worth a watch for its uplifting message. But for anyone else, there are far better animated options available.
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